Right Turn and Hit
03-03-11 | 08:52 AM
#26
Senior Member
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 174
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From: Dunwoody GA
Bikes: Cannondale Synapse
Glad things worked out the way they did Sara. Be careful out there!
I'm curious though, what do y'all do at 4-way stops? Especially if there's a line of cars? Do you take your place in line or pass on the right up to the stop sign?
I'm curious though, what do y'all do at 4-way stops? Especially if there's a line of cars? Do you take your place in line or pass on the right up to the stop sign?
03-03-11 | 08:59 AM
#27
Banned.
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 20,915
Likes: 12
03-03-11 | 09:01 AM
#28
just keep riding
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 13,560
Likes: 44
From: Milledgeville, Georgia
Bikes: 2018 Black Mountain Cycles MCD,2017 Advocate Cycles Seldom Seen Drop Bar, 2017 Niner Jet 9 Alloy, 2015 Zukas custom road, 2003 KHS Milano Tandem, 1986 Nishiki Cadence rigid MTB, 1980ish Fuji S-12S
03-03-11 | 11:55 AM
#29
Senior Member
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 790
Likes: 2
A lot for a new roadie to take in.
I don't feel comfortable out there with the cars. I see others doing it, usually the ones in a pack, but I am still timid. I generally ride up on the sidewalk and wait there. I know- it's wimpy. How can I call myself a roadbiker when I do that? All the sidewalks have cutouts, so I don't have to get off the bike to get up on the sidewalk. I am inexperienced. Cars make me nervous because I am a nurse. I see the aftermath of bike versus car. It is never pretty. I don't want to be one of them.
My favorite rides are on the dedicated bike paths because there are NO cars. I am also very careful going by blind driveways. I have even been known to ride the sidewalks on particularly busy streets that lack a bike lane. It is legal to ride on the sidewalks in California, but I understand it isn't allowed in some states? Luckily, most of the streets around me have bike lanes. Many even have exclusive bike lanes outside of the car parking lane. Those are the absolute best because I know the cars can see me well, I don't have to veer out of the lane to go around a parked car and they are free of road debris and tree roots because they aren't on the edge of the street.
YES! You were very lucky, thank goodness. Thanks for the reminder. In the mean time- I will continue to be a wimp when it comes to cars. Sidewalks are cool.
I don't feel comfortable out there with the cars. I see others doing it, usually the ones in a pack, but I am still timid. I generally ride up on the sidewalk and wait there. I know- it's wimpy. How can I call myself a roadbiker when I do that? All the sidewalks have cutouts, so I don't have to get off the bike to get up on the sidewalk. I am inexperienced. Cars make me nervous because I am a nurse. I see the aftermath of bike versus car. It is never pretty. I don't want to be one of them.
My favorite rides are on the dedicated bike paths because there are NO cars. I am also very careful going by blind driveways. I have even been known to ride the sidewalks on particularly busy streets that lack a bike lane. It is legal to ride on the sidewalks in California, but I understand it isn't allowed in some states? Luckily, most of the streets around me have bike lanes. Many even have exclusive bike lanes outside of the car parking lane. Those are the absolute best because I know the cars can see me well, I don't have to veer out of the lane to go around a parked car and they are free of road debris and tree roots because they aren't on the edge of the street.
YES! You were very lucky, thank goodness. Thanks for the reminder. In the mean time- I will continue to be a wimp when it comes to cars. Sidewalks are cool.
I'm not saying bike lanes are bad, just that you need to be aware of the hazards of those that are commonly called "door-zone bike lanes". If you can't confirm that there is no one in the parked car/truck who may open their door into you, you should leave the bike lane and ride in the next lane to your left. (Cyclists are allowed to leave bike lanes even in mandatory use states to avoid hazards. A potential "door prize" is a well-known hazard.) If the lane next to the bike lane isn't wide enough for you to share it with a passing Hummer (14 feet is the standard cut-off) you should "take the lane" by riding towards the center of the lane. Many cyclists use mirrors to help them safely merge into the next lane in these situations, but you should always do a direct visual check as well.
If you already knew about all this, then good for you; that puts you ahead of 99.9% of American traffic engineers. Have fun out there, it only gets better with practice.
03-07-11 | 08:33 AM
#30
Thread Starter
Idiot Emeritus
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 6,744
Likes: 13
From: 60 Miles South of Hellyer
Bikes: Yes.
Folks, this has been a great discussion! Thank you you all.
Let's see. four way stop? I usually stay to the shoulder, unless there is a right turning car in front of me, then I fall in behind them. That means, for me, the middle of the lane, so there is no confusion on the part of the driver behind me. I now use the middle of the lane for ALL traffic lights, as well!
The bike lanes around here are almost exclusively on the right shoulder, against the curb (if there is a curb). You really have to be on your toes when moving past parked cars in those situations. I never go very fast in such cases, I try to give myself some time and an out. Even so, things can happen so fast.
I do not like the idea of riding on sidewalks. A dedicated bike path/rec trail is one thing, but sidewalks - "side WALKS" are for pedestrians, in my view. There are just too many hazards associated with them to ride on them.
Let's see. four way stop? I usually stay to the shoulder, unless there is a right turning car in front of me, then I fall in behind them. That means, for me, the middle of the lane, so there is no confusion on the part of the driver behind me. I now use the middle of the lane for ALL traffic lights, as well!
The bike lanes around here are almost exclusively on the right shoulder, against the curb (if there is a curb). You really have to be on your toes when moving past parked cars in those situations. I never go very fast in such cases, I try to give myself some time and an out. Even so, things can happen so fast.
I do not like the idea of riding on sidewalks. A dedicated bike path/rec trail is one thing, but sidewalks - "side WALKS" are for pedestrians, in my view. There are just too many hazards associated with them to ride on them.
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03-07-11 | 08:43 AM
#31
Senior Member
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 1,618
Likes: 3
From: North Truro, MA
Bikes: Aegis Trident (Big Red)
What if the truck driver had decided he was not supposed to make a left turn at that light and had decided to cut back and go straight? I'm sure you've seen drivers pull that stunt before. Last week while driving my truck I was behind a car signalling to make a left turn, it then changed its mind and started nosing back to the right as if it wanted to go straight, and then I watched this car drive across 3 or 4 lanes of traffic to make a right turn from the left turn lane. If I was beside that car on a bike, or in their blind spot, they probably wouldn't have even seen me, as they were intent on looking at the traffic behind us to see if they had a clear spot.
03-07-11 | 10:16 AM
#32
Senior Member
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 201
Likes: 0
From: Southern California
I just posted that pic because it was one I found of that type of lane. Watching for doors opening still seems safer to me than going around cars that are parked. They could be opening doors, too. Getting out into traffic may be the best way on low traffic streets, but on many it is too dangerous. Sidewalks are wide enough for both a bike and a pedestrian. I use them when I need to. My best riding places are low traffic or dedicated bike trails.
I rode with some people the other day that wore those flaming yellow shirts. I could really see them. I am thinking about buying one even though they are pretty loud. Do any of you wear them?
I rode with some people the other day that wore those flaming yellow shirts. I could really see them. I am thinking about buying one even though they are pretty loud.
Do any of you wear them?
03-14-11 | 12:09 PM
#33
Thread Starter
Idiot Emeritus
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 6,744
Likes: 13
From: 60 Miles South of Hellyer
Bikes: Yes.
~~Sara
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